Shopaholic? Me?

My son wanted a Star Wars Party. You would think that this would be an easy job. Pop out buy some Star Wars Party ware and Bob’s your uncle. Well not quite! Apparently it is the wrong season for Star Wars parties. I ended up going on Ebay and ordering some stuff… but most of that never made it. Honestly. So aside from home made invitations and thank you cards, some plates and cups… it was all generic themed. However it all went well and it was a great party. So sometimes, I wonder if we just try too hard.

Do you have any idea how much there is to know about balloons?

If you walk into a shop and ask for balloons for a party, you would think that the first question they would ask you would be how many? Not so. You need to know if you want air or helium, latex or mylar, printed or plain, if you wanted them treated or not!! So to make your ordering balloons easy for your New Year’s Party or for any Party, here are some facts:-

• Latex Balloons are the stardard type. They can be air or helium filled.
• If you want them air filled, the image on the balloon needs to have the nozzle at the top. Helium needs to have the nozzle below the picture.
• Latex balloons float for up to 12 hours with helium. They stay inflated with air for months. To have them float for longer, they can be treated with hifloat. Then they would float for days.
• Mylar balloons last up to 2 weeks fully inflated but can float for over a month (depending on size).
• Mylar balloons can be reinflated and / or topped up several times.
• A latex balloon will decompose in the same time that a leaf will.
• Balloons will explode and shatter when they reach a certain altitude.
• Balloons are NOT detrimental to the environment.
• Helium is a natural gas. There is a finite amount.
• Balloons bring a smile to almost everyone’s face!
• A party is not a party without balloons!
• Balloons make a nice change to flowers!

What is the opposite of an alcohol detox? Is it alcoholification? Well… the reason I am asking is because I am invited to a party at a neighbour and it mean that I do not need to drive or argue over who is driving or fork out a fortune for a taxi… and it has been ages since I drank (only just stopped breastfeeding). So I must say that I am looking foward to this.

My only issue is that I do not have a babysitter at 6 am and it will be Sunday, so you know the kids will be up by then. Can I buy anything to train kids to wake say at 10 am on a sunday?

My son went to a party and came back with a balloon (as is often the case). The nice bit was that for once it was done decently and HiFloated – and this means that the balloon lasts at least a week… which means a happy child for a week.

So when buying balloons – get them Hi-Floated. (This is only applicable to latex balloons).

I must say that I am so proud of my efforts. I prepared my son’s invitations for his 5th Birthday Party. It is Toy Story themed, so I put a picture of Buzz Lightyear but with my son’s face instead. I used full color printing and printed on card. So far they have been a huge success with his friends… but most importantly they were a huge hit with my son. Aw!

Now to prepare the Thank You cards… might as well get prepared and match them.

OK here is my question. A child goes to a party. So who should give thank you cards. The child who enjoyed the party? Or the child who received the present? Or should they both send out Thank You notes?

I think the protocol is the child who receives the present sends a Thank You card but I also remember writingThank You notes when being invited to places such as Tea with Mr & Mrs X. 

I suppose it makes sense to er on the side of caution and send in both cases!

We were invited to a friends tonight. She made some amazing Goulash. I could not stop eating. So much for the diet. There might be weight loss pills that work on the market, but if I keep eating like that they would be pointless.

On the plus side, we had a great time. The kids had sparklers. We had great food, great wine and even greater company. What could I ask for more?

Today is Guy Fawkes night. Traditionally bonfires are lit and nowadays fireworks. So we bought some fireworks for the night and lit them. However you needed steiner binoculars to be able to see them. Ok I am exaggerating slightly but only slightly. I must check the brand because I highly recommend against ever buying this brand. I mean the first 3 we lit from the box did not even go off!

I have decided to throw the twins an early birthday party here in IOM as we will actually be in Malta for their birthday. And I am planning a picnic. I thought to make life easier all round, I will have a food bag for every kid. So I wanted to get sandwich boxes for each kid like you would when buying a take away sandwich. Except because they are aimed for the catering industry, they come in huge quantities. Now it is far from being industrial equipment, they are just one step away from sandwich bags and could make life easier for mums preparing their kids sandwiches for school without having to wonder why their lunch box did not come home from school again and without the expense… but even I won’t be buying a minimum of 1000 boxes. They would last my life time and flood my house with more junk! I guess sandwich bags it is then.

It is my son’s 4th Birthday shortly and I want to throw a party. My biggest problem is finding a venue… everywhere seems booked. I am panicked. I thought as long as I buy my party invitations and order a bouncy castle, all would work out smoothly. But if you don’t have a place to have the party (kids party at my house is not an option!) then whoops! I don’t know quite where to go… but I must work fast!!! HELP!!!!